Indicating instrument



May 21, 1929.

J. ZUBATY ET AL INDICATING INSTRUMENT Filed Sept. 19, 1924 m m 4 mr i 0Va W i A 25 At a Patented May 21, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH ZUBATY AND ALBERT CHAMPION, OF FLINT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNORS TOGENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OFDELAWARE.

INDICATING INSTRUMENT.

Application filed. September 19, 1924, Serial No. 738,727.

This invention relates to speedometers and similar indicatinginstruments, and is illustrated as embodied in a speedometer of the typehaving an angularly-movable indicating element turned more or lessagainst the resistance of a spring by speed-controlled magnetic means.An object of the invention is to provide a novel sensitive. and compactmounting for an indicating element of this general character. V

One feature of the invention relates to adj usting a resilient part,shown as a leaf spring, above the end of the spindle carrying theindicating element, and which serves as a stop against axial movement ofthe spindle, by flexingv it more or lessto adjust the clearance abovethe spindle (e. g. by means of a setscrew). This part may also be usedto hold in its seat the upper bearing of the spindle, or to hold inadjusted position an anchor for one end of the spring which resistsmovement of the indicating element. We prefer to use the spring orequivalent part for both these purposes, by superposing a part of theanchor on the bearing, under the end of the resilient part. 7

Another feature of the invention relates to holding the lower end andside bearings for the spindle in their seat by a clip embracing thelower arm of the bracket carrying the indicating element.

The above and other features of the invention, including a new zeroadjustment and various other novel and desirable constructions, will beapparent from the following description of the illustrative embodimentsshown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is aside elevation of a speedometer, broken away to show theupper part in vertical section;

Figure 2 is a vertical section on a larger scale, showing the mountingof the upper end of the spindle;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the indicator assembly;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the anchor member for the torsion spring;7

Figure 5 is a vertical section, on the scale of Figure 2, showing themounting of the lower end of the spindle; V

Figures 6 and 7 are vertical sections showing two alternative mountingsfor the upper end of the spindle; and

Figure 8 is a top plan view corresponding to Figure 3, plate 36 beingbroken away to show the adjustable abutment.

The speedometer illustrated includes a casing 10 having a part 12 to beconnected to the drive connection from the vehicle wheel ortransmission, and inclosing a frame 14 forming a support for a hub16driven by aflexible shaft 18 and carrying aniron rotor 20 which variesthe lines of force in a magnetic field to turn more or less anangularly-movable indicating element or dial 22. Except as furtherdescribed below, these parts or their equivalents may be of any desiredconstruction, those illustrated being parts of a standard ACspeedometer. The odometer mechanism, being in the lower part of thecasing, does not appear in Figure 1. Hub 16 is shown lubricated by awick oiler 24.

The indicating element 22 has a radial arm 26, pressed or keyed on aspindle 28 and held by retaining washers or the like 30. The element isarranged between an upper arm 32 and a lower arm 34 of a supportingbracket 36 having key ribs sliding in grooves in frame 14, and raisedand lowered to calibrate the i11- strument by a setscrew 38 engaging astamping 40 inserted in a slot formed in frame 14.

The lower arm 34 of the bracket is formed with a seat for an end jewelor bearing 42, and a perforated side jewel or bearing 44, separated by astamping or washer 46, and retained in the seat by a spring clip 48.

These bearings may be synthetic or genuine jewels, or of metal, as forexample phosphor bronze. The bearings or jewels are held by the upperresilient arm of the clip, which isconvexon the bottom to take care ofpossible variations in the thickness of the assembly. This arm of theclip has an opening for spindle 28. The clip is seated in a notch 49 inthe end of bracket arm 34, which keeps it from turning, and its lowerarm has an opening embracing a boss 50 on the bottom of the arm 34, toprevent. displacement of the clip. In thearrangement of Figures 1 and 2,the upper end of the spindle is journaled in a jewel or hearing, hereshown as including a metallic stamping or washer 52 and a carrier '54having-a flange spun over the edge the stamping 52. A synthetic'orgenuine ewel may besubstituted for the stamping, and held in the sameway. The carrier 54 of the hearing restsin a seat in arm 32 of bracket36.

The bearing is held in the seat bya resilient part shown as a leafspring 56, which is doubled back across the'top of the spindle 28 toserve as a stop or top bearing preventing axthe clearance above the topof thespindle.

ial'movement of the spindle. The spring 56 is flexed more or less meanssuchas aset- V v 1n combination, an angularly-movable. 1I1Cllscrew'58threaded into bracket 36, to adjust The set screw is held in adjusted'position by the pressure between its tapered head and the Iconical socket formed in the spring for it.

The purpose of the stop constituted by the spring 56 is to limit axialmovement of the spindle 28 without introducing friction and applyingpressure to the shaft as would be thecase Wer'e'an end thrust bearingpro vided. V The torque. available to rotate the indicating element,and' itsspindle is very slight and should not be reducedby'needlessfriction. At the same time it is undesirable that the spindlebepermitted appreciable longitudinal movement. By adjusting set screw 58so as to reduce the clearance between the r movement of-t-he spring56vandthe end ofthe spindle to a minimum no friction, or pressure isapplied to-the spindle and at the s'ame time 'GDClWlSG spindle ispractically done Angular movement of the indicating element 22, as isusual in instruments of this character, is resisted by a torsion hairspring 60, connected at one end to a part 62 on the spindle and at itsother end to an anchor 64. The spring may be secured to the anchor by atapering pin or wedge 65, preferably rec tangular injcross section. W'eprefe r to pro 'vide theanchor with a flanged part engaging the carrier.Mofthe top bearing, under the end of spring 56. Thus spring 56 not onlyholds thebearing in its seat, and serves as fliStOp or top bearing forthe spindle, but also serves to hold the anchor 64 inany angularpositiomto permit adjustment of thetension of'spring 60. Ifdesired,anchor64t maybe pressed out to form serrations'or rounded teeth 66,anyone of. which may be engaged byone or more, teeth, on the spring 56.

The zero position of the indicating element 22 is adjustably determinedby engage; ment of a projection or stop 72, bent up from its topsurface, with theflend of a lever T4 pivoted on the under surface of armOr dinarily thefriction of the pivotal riveted mounting of lever 7dwillbe ample to hold stamping 252 is used as a jewel or bearing,

and anchor 64 is not held by spring 56, but is mounted on a boss 76 ofarm 32. In this modification, spring 60 is attached to anchor .64 by awedge pin 165 round'in cross section.

While several embodiments have been de scribed in detail, it is notourintention to limit the scope of the invention tothose particularembodiments, or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a speedometer or the like comprising,

eating element, a spindle carrying said'element, a bearing for the lowerend of the spindle, and a side bearing for the upper end of the'spindle,a resilient part spaced above the end of the spindle for directlyengaging the spindle to serve as a stop to limit axial movement of thespindle, and means to adjust the clearance between said part and the endof the spindle by flexing the part.

2. In aspeedometer or the like comprising,

in combination, an angularly-movable indi-f eating element, a spindlecarrying sai'dele- 3. In a speedometeror the like comprising, 1ncombinat on, an angularly-movable indieating element, a spindle carryingsaid'element, abearing for the lower end of the spindle, and a sidebearingfor the upper end of the spindle, a leaf spring having one endholding the' side bearing and bent backion itself and spaced fromthe endof saidspindle for directly engaging the spindle to serve as a stop tolimit axial movementof the spindle, and means to flex the spring more orless to adjust the clearance between the spring and the spindle. r

4. In a speedometer or the like comprising, in combination, a supportingbracket having upper and lower arms, said upper arm being provided witha seat, an, angularly-movable indicating element between said arms, aspindle carryingthe indicating element, a bearing for the lower end ofthe spindle carried by the lower arm ofthe bracket, and a perforatedside bearing surrounding the upper end of the spindle and mounted insaid seat formed in the upper arm of thebra'cket, a resilient partengaging the side bearing and passing across but spaced from the upperend of the spindle for directly engaging the spindle toserve as a stopto limit axial movement of the spindle, and means engaging the resilientpart and the bracket to flex said part more or less to ten- 'sion it tohold the bearing in its seat and to adjust the clearance above the endof the spindle.

5. A speedometer or the like comprising,'in combination, an angularlymovable indicating element, a spindle carrying said element,

bearings for the ends of the spindle and seats for the bearings, atorsion spring resisting angular movement of the indicating element, astationary anchor for one end of the spring which is angularlyadjustable about the axis of the spindle, and common means for holdingthe anchor in adjusted position and for holding one of the bearings inits seat.

6. A speedometer or the like comprising, in combination, anangularly-movable indicating element, a spindle carrying said element,bearings for the ends of the spindle and seats for the bearings, atorsion spring resisting angular movement of the indicating element, astationary anchor for one end of the spring which is angularlyadjustable about the axis of the spindle, and a part holding the anchorin adjusted position and passing above the end of the spindle to serveas a stop against axial movement of the spindle.

7 A speedometer or the like comprising, in combination, anangularly-movable indicating element, a spindle carrying said element,

bearings for the ends of the spindle and seats for the bearings, atorsion spring resisting angular movement of the indicating element, astationary anchor for one end of the spring which is angularlyadjustable about the axis of the spindle, a part holding the anchor inadjusted position and passing above the end of the spindle to serve as astop against axial movement of the spindle, and means for flexing saidpart more or less to vary the clearance above the end of the spindle.

8. A speedometer or the like as defined by claim 6, in which said partalso holds one of the bearings in its seat.

9. A speedometer or the like comprising, in combination, a supportingbracket having upper and lower arms with seats for bearings, anangularly-movable indicating element between the arms, a spindlecarrying said element, a bearing for the lower end of the spindle in thelower arm of the bracket, a side bearing for the upper end of thespindle in the seat in the upper arm of the bracket, a torsion springresisting angular movement of the indicating element, an anchor arm forone end of the torsion spring having a part superposed on the sidebearing in its seat and angularly movable to adjust the tension of thetorsion spring, a leaf spring engaging the anchor arm to hold the anchorarm and the bearing in the seat and to hold the anchor arm in adjustedposition and which extends over the top of the spindle to serve as astop against axial movement of the spindle, and means for flexing theleaf spring more or less to adjust the clearance above the top end ofthe spindle.

10. A speedometer or the like comprising, in combination, a supportingbracket having upper and lower arms with seats for bearings, anangularly movable indicating element between the arms, a spindlecarrying the inclicating element, a bearing in the seat of the upperbracket arm for the upper end of the spindle, an end bearing and a sidebearing for the lower end of the spindle mounted in the seat in thelower arm of the bracket, a clip embracing the lower arm of the bracketand extending around said arm to a position above the bearing andholding the bearing in the seat.

11. In a speedometer or the like comprising, in combination, anangularly movable indicating element adapted to be turned more or lessaccording to the speed, a spring resisting angular movement of theindicating elements, a bracket having arms above and below theindicating element, and a spindle journalled in said arms and carryingthe indicating element, a plate secured to and above said upper bracketarm and spaced above the end of said spindle serving as a stop to limitthe axial movement of said spindle, a stop projecting upwardly from theindicating element and a lever pivoted to the lower side of the upperarm of the bracket and engaged by the stop to adj ustably determine thezero position of the indicating element.

In testimony whereof We aflix our signatures.

JOSEPH ZUBATY. A. CHAMPION.

